Many of you know about the San Francisco fog. It is such a presence in the city that someone (a deep, dark secret) gave it a name, "Karl the Fog." Karl has been visiting us a lot more than usual this November, more of a summer pattern than one of fall.He doesn't stay all day, and doesn't visit every neighborhood equally, but he's had fun lately playing games with us - will he appear or won't he? Will he swoop down close to the ground, causing us to pull up our collars and plunge our hands deep in our pockets? Will he stay aloft and let us peek underneath him? Will he retreat back beyond the ocean breakers? Will he allow the sun to say 'hello?'After a week or more of foggy, foggy nights and mornings, today dawned beautifully clear. I enjoyed views across San Francisco Bay to Marin County... 11/17/2019

A few days ago the California Association of Realtors released its Q3 housing affordability index. It shows a generally stabilizing or slightly declining median home price in San Francisco County, plus increasing median household incomes. Those factors, combined with falling interest rates equals a jump in year-over-year Bay Area housing affordability.The California Association of Realtors Housing Affordability index estimates the percentage of households who can afford to buy a median priced HOUSE with a 20% down payment at prevailing fixed 30-year interest rates, with associated housing expenses such as taxes and insurance. Some charts of this data follow.Remember, counties contain cities, and cities contain neighborhoods of widely varying values, market conditions and affluence. Vary... 11/13/2019

Happy Halloween Everyone As I walked around the city today on various appointments, I enjoyed seeing many Halloween costumes adorning happy, excited youngsters. Tonight in the city the scene will be quite different as costumed adults head out for the evening.For fun, I'm posting a few favorite pictures of Halloween decorations I've enjoyed in various neighborhoods, like Noe Valley, Pacific Heights, Presidio Heights, and these skeletons at Davies Symphony Hall.  10/31/2019

Thinking of buying a duplex in San Francisco? One happy buyer's purchase closed yesterday and he'll be making a few changes and moving in soon.Yesterday was the day the sale recorded at City Hall; title transferred then, and shortly thereafter I delivered the keys to the buyer, tied to the orange ribbon in the basket. Tucked carefully in tissue paper were two champagne flutes and a bottle of prosecco, along with a few snacks, a plant and a card.This buyer's quest is over for now.He was able to buy a duplex with the upstairs unit vacant, ready for his personal use. An existing tenant is in the downstairs unit; that rent will help make the mortgage payment. The building, described accurately as a "2 unit Victorian Fixer" originally went on the market asking $988,000, a probate sale with c... 10/30/2019

Mark your calendars. Once again the San Francisco City Chorus has been hard at work preparing an evening of beautiful choral music for our enjoyment.George Frideric Handel's "Judas Maccabaeus" will be performed on Saturday, November 9, 2019, 7:30PM, Old First Presbyterian Church, Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco.Held at the convenient venue of Old First Presbyterian Church on Van Ness Avenue at Sacramento Street, parking is available in the Old First garage on Sacramento Street, street parking can often be found, or major bus lines run nearby. With a 7:30PM start, one can enjoy an early dinner at one of the many nearby Polk Street restaurants, or perhaps the famous House of Prime Rib, since 1949, calls to you. A nice cocktail can finish up the evening at Harper & Rye, just a block away, o... 10/23/2019

There's been a lot of chatter about the softening of the San Francisco real estate market, particularly in the past couple of months. The good news, though, is that buyers are still buying and sellers are still selling. Interest rates remain incredibly low and people still want to own a piece of this beautiful city.The San Francisco market continues to see sales price growth, though perhaps more modest than what we've seen in recent years even including the solid growth of the market this past Spring. It's important to note, though, that real estate is both cyclical and seasonal. A cycle usually lasts anywhere from 8-10 years. The high selling seasons are typically Spring and Fall. The statistics change month-to-month and it's only by looking at longer-term data that any definitive tren... 10/23/2019

Are you looking for a great place for hair care in San Francisco? Tulip Salon, located at 2455 Polk Street (cross street Filbert) is a wonderful Russian Hill find.Hedieh Poustinchian, the owner of Tulip Salon, does an outstanding job of caring for hair, including my very fine, very short hair. She listens to me, but doesn't hesitate to make suggestions, which I appreciate. Her products are first rate; many are organic and chemical-free.It is obvious that Hedieh loves what she does so very well. She's a joy to get to know.If you are looking for a great hair stylist, Call Hedieh at 415-346-5685. If you are looking to buy or sell a San Francisco residence, I can be reached at 650-465-4547.  10/20/2019

The owners of this lovely Edwardian condo on Nob Hill have decided that after over 20-plus years here it is time for them to leave their cherished home and move on with the next phase of their lives.The next couple of months will find them busy packing up their many years of treasures and preparing the home for the market. This provides a wonderful opportunity for buyers, since the sellers are willing to allow me to show the home during this period to interested, qualified buyers. The sellers would entertain offers before the property goes on the multiple listing service.Some details: Built in 1910 (per titleprofile.com) 1840 square feet (per titleprofile.com) lower unit in 3-unit building; no interior stairs Living room with bay window, other rich wood details Separate dining room with... 10/09/2019

You've decided that owning a San Francisco condominium is right for you, so what is the next step?Typically, one starts with the basics: price range, number of bedrooms and parking needs and area of the city that appeals the most. Once we've narrowed those parameters, it's time to consider what type of building appeals. Victorian? Edwardian? Art Deco? Mid-Century? Modern? Hi-rise? Lo-rise?Part of the charm of San Francisco is the eclectic mix of buildings in each particular neighborhood. Take Pacific Heights for instance. These pictures show examples of condo buildings all within a few blocks of each other.When it's time to find your place in The City, find a REALTOR with the knowledge, interest, and enthusiasm to help you find the place that is right for you. 09/07/2019

Home sales in San Francisco - a detailed look at Q1 and Q2, current inventory, and expected in Q3 and @Q4Compact San Francisco, bordered by water on 3 sides (the pale blue in the first photo) is divided into 10 real estate districts. Each district behaves differently in the market, both in price and "hotness" AKA days on market. Other factors beside location play into pricing, with tenant occupied properties causing the greatest drop in sale price.Per SocketSite the number of homes listed for sale in San Francisco is roughly 530, 4% fewer than at the same time last year. Homes listed at $1,000,000 or less have dropped to 32 percent, which is down 6% from last year. Inventory levels are expected to jump after Labor Day and peak in October. A call to staging firms, pest and home inspector... 08/28/2019

Happy End of Summer! I hope you had a wonderful, relaxing time with friends and family.  The July statistics for the San Francisco real estate market are out and you can check them out below. As always, if there is anything I can help you or someone you know with regarding real estate, don't hesitate to reach out. Median Sales Price:The median sales price for homes dropped in July compared to June. This in and of itself isn't suprising. The Spring selling season typically brings the highest prices annually, and June is when the last of those transactions are closing. The summer tends to slow with less inventory on the market, often particularly the higher priced inventory. What is a little surprising is that the median single family home price in July, $1,576,000, was slightly lower (3%... 08/28/2019

"The fog comes onlittle cat feet. It sits lookingover harbor and cityon silent haunchesand then moves on."......Carl Sandburg One thing synonymous with San Francisco is....fog!Fog here even has a name -- Karl the Fog -- and August is often referred to as "Fogust." Poets write about the fog, and screenplays use the fog for eerie effects.As I walked along the street in Pacific Heights yesterday evening, the fog was low to the ground, wetting my eyelashes and creating soft, rather mysterious shadows. The fog horns were sounding, but other sounds of the city were muted by the blanket of fog.One of the delights of living in San Francisco - the mysterious fog.   08/27/2019

Four weeks ago I previewed 3 Edwardian duplexes in San Francisco. I picked these particular three since they are located near a property for which I am preparing a comparative market analysis, and because of: the similarity in size and age to the subject property the degree of updating, and the occupancy status. All of these things impact the value of the property, as does parking (or lack thereof) and how busy the street is, occupancy status is often the prime differentiator.The first one I looked at was an Alamo Square Victorian duplex, a few blocks away from the famous Painted Ladies Upper unit: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath Lower unit: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths  Nicely updated; high ceilings; lovely period details; backyard Parking for 2 or 3 cars in garage, plus driveway To be delivered vacant List... 08/21/2019

Sitting at the tip of a peninsula, San Francisco is surrounded on three sides by water. At the west edge is the Pacific Ocean stretching from the Cliff House south to Fort Funston. Ocean Beach with it's miles of sandy beach is here to enjoy whether you are a surfer, a running, a dog walker or simply want some solitude to enjoy listening to the waves. Here a girl and her dog celebrate New Year's Day at the beachAt the northern tip of The City, you'll find more beaches, hiking trails with incredible water vistas and then---the Golden Gate Bridge. Here Elisa Uribe Realtor #01427070 joins me for a hike along the Lands' End trail, and then a glimpse of Baker Beach on an unusually hot summer Sunday.  Rounding the tip and under the Golden Gate Bridge is the Bay, with Crissy Field, the Marina, ... 08/18/2019

We've long heard that home ownership is out of reach for many in the Bay Area, and this report about prices, affordability and monthly cost will do nothing to change that opinion. But there are steps one can take instead of giving up.Gathering data from the California Association of Realtors, Compass statistician Patrick Carlisle breaks it down into understandable language and graphics. These figures take into account median home sale prices (see first chart, above) and prevailing mortgage rates in the second quarter of 2019. They assume a 20 percent down payment and also includes taxes and insurance in monthly costs. When qualifying income over $343,000 per year is needed to buy a median priced home in San Francisco, with monthly payments hovering around $8,580, it's not surprising tha... 08/14/2019

A couple of months ago I was working with sellers to prepare their condominium on the Great Highway in San Francisco for sale. (You can read about it here.) They offered to sell it to their tenant, and as it turned out, the tenant's friend purchased it. It was a smooth transaction, and the sale recorded in July.Nice for the tenant; no need to disrupt life and move. Nice for the out-of-the-area sellers; a quick sale at a very good price with a minimum of effort needed on their part.This sale occurred without putting the property on our multiple listing service, something I usually advise against doing. It's important for sellers to know the benefits of using the MLS. Listing property with a local MLS exposes a seller's property to all real estate agents and brokers, and their potential b... 08/07/2019

Top 10 Tips for Buying a Home in the San Francisco Bay Area Buying a home in the highly competitive San Francisco Bay Area real estate market is a daunting task for nearly everyone. Tales of heartache abound --- “everything goes for over asking price,” “we don’t stand a chance against all-cash offers,” “everything we want is out of our price range,” etc. If you only listened to the naysayers, you might not even set foot in the arena.  As a lender who has observed the home purchase market, specifically over the last decade (2009 to 2019), I wanted to share my Top 10 tips for succeeding with your goal of home ownership. No doubt about it, it’s a worthy one despite all the challenges.  I'm confident this advice will help you too:  Get financially prepared. Before entering the housing marke... 07/31/2019

 We're half way through 2019 and the San Francisco real estate market is heating up again. Median sales prices soared in June, reaching new highs. Expect the summer months to slow slightly before the market takes off again for the Fall selling season. Happy Summer! Median Sales Price:After a pretty lackluster first quarter, where home sale prices fell compared to the 4th quarer of 2018, there was a palpable shift as we headed into the Spring months of April and May. Those results are finally coming to light as home prices soared to a new high for June, a reflection of sales of properties that went on the market and into contract in April and May. Single family home prices shot up to over $1.7 Million, more than 8% higher than the same month last year. Condos and lofts prices grew 11% ye... 07/29/2019

National Ice Cream Day is Sunday, July 21, 2019Summer in San Francisco, where the fog is our natural air conditioner. It rolls in most afternoons, and slides out beyond the Golden Gate mid-morning, leaving cool, sunny days for us to enjoy walking, running, working, playing. While some neighborhoods (think Outer Sunset) have more fog than others, it never hampers our days, and we're used to layering up, peeling layers off as the day dictates. We aren't suffering in the heat wave that is affecting much of the country this weekend, but ice cream is always enjoyed, here as well as elsewhere. Here are a few spots in The City where you might go to indulge in this cool treat. (Cover Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash)Swensen's Ice Cream - located on Hyde Street in Russian Hill, at the corner of ... 07/20/2019

Did you know? Nearly every San Franciscan lives within a 10-minute walk to a park, per a study by The Trust for Public Land. They go on to report: 100% of the population served by city parks ("served" = within a 10-minute walk) 19.6% of the city is covered by park land 1.3 acres is the median park size $318.39 amount per capita spent on parks Per their study of 100 largest cities in the country: San Francisco ranks in the 96th percentile in dog parks 75th percentile in park bathrooms 71st percentile in basketball hoops 56th percentile in recreation and senior centers 52nd percentile in playgrounds 36th percentile for splashpads (no surprise here with our temperate climate!) As a San Franciscan who loves to hike and explore, I know first-hand many of our city's parks. Some are very small... 07/18/2019